University of Virginia Library

ACT II.

SCENE I.

The Palatine gardens in view of the imperial palace; flowers and fountains, water-falls, grottoes and statues.
Maximus
alone.
What awful silence! All the palace now
Is wrapt in peace. See where the new-born day
Reddens in yonder east, and yet around
No voice is heard, no person seen: ere this
Æmilius must have given the wish'd-for blow—
He promis'd on the tyrant to revenge
The wrongs of Maximus—my friend is tardy.

SCENE II.

Enter Fulvia.
Fulv.
Alas, my father!

Max.
Speak—What says my daughter?

Fulv.
What hast thou done?

Max.
Done, Fulvia!

Fulv.
O ye powers!
Cæsar has been attack'd—full well I know
By whom the deed was plann'd—'Tis thou, my father,
That, to revenge thee, urg'd the assassin's hand.

Max.
But say, is Cæsar dead?

Fulv.
Think of thy safety:
Already is the apartment round beset
With arms and soldiers.

Max.
Tell me if he lives,
Or lies a senseless corse.

Fulv.
Alas! I know not;
Lost in my fears I could attend to nothing.

Max.
Vain, childish terrors! I myself will go
To learn th' event.

[going, he meets Val.

SCENE III.

Enter Valentinian without his mantle and laurel; his sword drawn, attended by the Prætorian guard.
Val.
[entering.]
Let every pass be guarded;
Stop every outlet.

Max.
[aside.]
Still the tyrant lives!
Malicious Fortune!

Val.
Fulvia! Maximus!
What heart could e'er conceive it!

Max.
Speak, my lord,
What has befallen?

Val.
Such unexampled treason
Was never heard.

Fulv.
[aside.]
O most unhappy father!

Max.
[aside.]
He knows it all.

Val.
In whom shall I confide?
My best, my dearest friends attempt my life.

Max.
Be firm my heart. [aside.]
And is it possible
Can such a wretch be found?

Val.
Yes, Maximus,
Such has been found, nor is to thee unknown.

Max.
[disturbed.]
To me! my lord.

Val.
Yes, thee; but Heaven defends
The lives of monarchs. Vainly hop'd Æmilius
To bury in my breast his fatal steel:
He thought to find me buried deep in sleep;
He was deceiv'd. I heard him softly enter
My clos'd apartment; by his silent tread,
As he drew nearer to my couch, my mind
Presag'd some treason; strait I rose, and snatch'd
The nearest sword: alarm'd, the villain fled;
But as he fled I dealt amidst the shade
My strokes at random: with the noise the guard
Rush'd in, and by the sudden entering light,
I saw my weapon stain'd with fresh-drawn blood,
But sought in vain the traitor who escap'd me.

Max.
Perhaps 'twas not Æmilius.

Val.
Yes, I heard
His well-known voice; for when I gave the wound
A sudden cry broke from him.

Max.
What could make
The slave of Cæsar hazard such a deed?

Val.
Though his the deed, another plann'd the treason.

Fulv.
[aside.]
O Heaven!

Max.
Permit me, sacred sir, to trace
The villain's steps.

Val.
That care belongs to Varus:
Thou, Maximus, depart not.

Max.
I am lost!
[aside.
Perhaps I better may than he.—

Val.
My friend,
Leave me not thus, for O! should'st thou forsake me,
Where shall I hope for counsel or assistance?

Max.
I shall obey—I breathe again.

[aside.
Fulv.
[aside.]
Once more
My life returns.

Max.
Whom can you further, sir,
Suspect of treason?

Val.
Hast thou then a doubt?
Dost thou not see in this the hand of Ætius?
O! could I once produce the proofs against him,
His life should pay the forfeit of his crime.

Fulv.
[aside.]
What new misfortune falls on wretched Fulvia?

Max.
I cannot think that Ætius is a traitor;
At least he has no cause: receiv'd with honour,
Applauded by his sovereign; could his heart
Consent to this?—'Tis true, that jealousy,
Ambition, love and popular applause
Too oft contaminate the firmest loyalty.
Ætius beholds himself belov'd of all,
Elate with conquest, master of the troops,
He may perhaps forget his vow'd allegiance.

Fulv.
Can you, my father, who have known his virtues,
Speak of him thus?

Max.
'Tis true, I am Ætius' friend,
But Cæsar's subject.

Val.
And does Fulvia then
Defend a traitor?—O! my jealous heart
Too truly has suspected.

Max.
Can you think
Fulvia will harbour any love but yours?
You are deceiv'd; she pleads in his behalf
For pity, not for love: the threatening view
Of punishment and death excites her mind
To feel compassion—Are you yet to learn
The native weakness of the tender sex?

SCENE IV.

Enter Varus.
Varus.
Cæsar, in vain I've sought to find the traitor.

Val.
Where can he lie conceal'd?

Varus.
Not all our care
Discovers his retreat.

Val.
And must I still
Remain uncertain thus? Whom shall I trust?
Whom shall I fear? When was there ever known
A state more curs'd than mine?

Max.
Compose your thoughts:
The assassin's failing in the stroke design'd,
Must baffle all the secret traitor's schemes.
I'll seek Æmilius, and with zealous care
Watch o'er your safety. Let us still remember,
The ruffian that assail'd your life is known,
And him meanwhile we may at least secure.

Val.
Assist me, friend, I place my hopes in thee.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

Maximus, Fulvia.
Fulv.
And can you, father, lay the guilt on Ætius?
What urges you?

Max.
Unthinking girl! his ruin
Is my security: this smooths the path
To my revenge; for should he fall, Augustus
Is left without defence. Thou see'st by this
How much his death imports; but Maximus
Has views too mighty for thy sex's weakness:
Leave these to him whose years are more than thine,
Whose wisdom greater.

Fulv.
O! let years and wisdom
Yet teach you justice.

Max.
Am I then unjust
In seeking to revenge my injur'd honour?
Or, grant I were—the fatal path is taken,
And 'tis too late to think of a retreat.

Fulv.
O! never, never 'tis too late, my father,
To tread again the abandon'd steps of virtue;
For he who feels abhorrence of his crime,
Redeems his innocence.

Max.
And shall I never
Persuade thee to be silent? Tell me, daughter,
What dost thou seek? Would'st thou instruct thy father
In what thy youth was taught by him? Or would'st thou
Make him subservient to thy feeble love?
Fulvia, restrain the license of thy speech,
And learn in future not to incense a father.

Fulv.
Must I be silent? Must I fear to speak
When I behold my sovereign's life invaded;
Know you are criminal, while Ætius bears
The imputed guilt? What bosom can support it?
Release me, sir, from every tie of duty,
Or ask some other proof of my obedience.

Max.
Perfidious girl! I see thy purpos'd victim.
Yes, thou would'st sacrifice me to thy passion:
Go then—with impious rage abuse that fondness
Which could not keep a thought conceal'd from thee,
And for a lover's sake accuse a parent.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

Fulvia
alone.
What shall I do? Alas! 'tis equal guilt
To speak or to conceal—To speak—O Heaven!
Were parricide—I tremble but to think it;
And if I still am silent, Ætius dies!
At that idea round my heart congeals
The curdling blood—What counsel now remains
For Fulvia?

SCENE VII.

Enter Ætius.
Ætius! ha! what brings thee here?
Say, whither goest thou?

Æt.
To defend Augustus.
I heard but now—

Fulv.
O! fly—for know, on thee
Suspicion of the treason falls.

Æt.
On me!
Thou art deceiv'd—Tiber too oft has seen
My faith approv'd: the man who by his deeds
Can conquer others, still will rise superior
To every feeble blast of foul detraction.

Fulv.
But what if Cæsar has himself accus'd thee?
Say that I heard him?

Æt.
If Augustus said it,
He never could believe it: had he paus'd
But for a moment, every thing he saw
Would plead in my defence; all Italy,
The attesting world; his glory and his empire,
Preserv'd by me, must make him own the falsehood.

Fulv.
I know thy ruin would be well aveng'd;
But who can tell me that thy friends would give
Their timely aid? Alas! the deepest vengeance
Would not console me for thy loss—O! fly,
Fly if thou lov'st me, and indulge my fears.

Æt.
Thy fond affection raises fancied dangers.

Fulv.
In what dost thou confide? Thy valour, Ætius?
Heroes are mortal, and oppress'd by numbers.
Or in thy virtue? Ah! from that alone
My soul forebodes misfortune—Yes, thy virtue
Is now thy worst of foes.

Æt.
My confidence
Is founded, Fulvia, on an upright heart,
A stranger to remorse; on innocence,
That brings its own applause; in this right hand,
So needful to the weal of Rome. Augustus
Is no barbarian, nor insensible
To deeds of worth: should one like me be lost,
A tyrant would himself confess such loss
Not lightly were supplied.

SCENE VII.

Enter Varus with a guard.
Fulv.
Varus, what news?

Æt.
Is Cæsar's life in safety? Can my aid
Avail for his defence? What does he?

Varus.
Cæsar
Has sent me to you.

Æt.
Let us hasten to him.

Varus.
Not so—he sends me to demand your sword.

Æt.
Say'st thou?

Fulv.
This I foresaw—

Æt.
What means Augustus?
Can it be possible?

Varus.
Would it were not!
I pity you, my friend, and grieve that fate
Compels me, while my secret heart rebels,
To act a part injurious to our friendship.

Æt.
There Varus— [gives his sword.]
pity Cæsar, not thy friend.

[Exit guarded.

SCENE VIII.

Fulvia, Varus.
Fulv.
If ever thou didst feel a soft affection,
Have pity, Varus, on our mutual passion,
And plead the cause of an unhappy friend.

Varus.
Your love discover'd adds to my affliction;
And fain I would assist your cause; but Ætius
Is his own foe, Heaven knows! and by his speech
Incenses Cæsar.

Fulv.
Well his high demeanour
Is known to all; nor should it now, methinks,
Be deem'd in him a crime; and surely Varus
At least must own, while Ætius' tongue proclaims
His own deserts, truth gives his words a sanction.

Varus.
Sometimes 'tis virtue to conceal the truth.
And if I praise not now his ostentation,
'Tis friendship makes me silent: for his sake
I'll prove my utmost power; and grant it Heaven
The attempt may not be vain.

Fulv.
O! say not thus,
For to the wretched he denies assistance,
Who, while he gives it, doubts th' event.

Varus.
His safety
Your will determines: give your hand to Cæsar,
And every power is yours.

Fulv.
O! never, never,
Will I be other than the spouse of Ætius.

Varus.
But to preserve him from his fortune, Fulvia
Must yield a little: she alone can soften
The wrath of Valentinian; then delay not,
And if thy bosom feel not love for Cæsar,
Yet learn to feign it.

Fulv.
I'll pursue thy counsel;
With what success, Heaven knows.—Dissimulation
Is ever criminal; and O! I find
My heart abhors the trial.

Varus.
To dissemble
In such a cause is virtue; and a woman
Can ne'er repine to act what suits her sex.

Fulv.

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

Varus
alone.
Unstable Fortune! Thoughtless is the man
Who trusts thy fickle smiles! Too happy Ætius;
But now was envied by the youth of Rome,
The mark of emulation. In a moment
The scene is chang'd and he becomes the object
Of general pity;—yes, unstable Fortune,
Thoughtless is he who trusts thy fickle smiles!

[Exit.

SCENE X.

A gallery of statues with seats; a large seat for two persons. A balcony open, a view of Rome.
Honoria, Maximus.
Hon.
Yes, Maximus, I must confess it, all
Accuses Ætius: he is Cæsar's rival,
And thinks that to his worth and name alone
The universe must bend. What then avails
To plead in his defence? I heard myself
His threats, and now behold th' effect has follow'd—
And yet my heart, incredulous, can never
Believe his guilt—that Ætius is a traitor.

Max.
O unexampled virtue! this, indeed,
Is clemency's excess! And who, Honoria,
Has greater cause than you have to condemn him?
He has despis'd you, and refus'd that hand
Which kings contend for.—Who but you—

Hon.
Alas!
Tell me no more the wrongs I have sustain'd;
I feel them deeply here—Ingrate and proud!
To think of them distracts me, Maximus:
Not that I love him, or regret the loss
Of Ætius' hand—offended dignity,
My fame—my honour—these and these alone—

Max.
I know it well; but all, Honoria, know not
Your bosom's secret springs: I need not tell you,
We easier far believe the deeds that flow
From weakness than from virtue: clemency
In you may seem but love. One way remains,
And only one, to banish such suspicion.
Let vengeance fill your thoughts: a just revenge
You never should abhor, while clemency
To such excess but urges new offences.

Hon.
My private wrongs are not my greatest care:
Think of my brother's danger; let us hear
What Ætius says, and seek to find the traitor.
Perhaps he yet is innocent—

Max.
'Tis true—
Who knows?—even yet he may repent, Honoria,
And yet accept your hand.

Hon.
Accept my hand!
Shall I so far forget myself!—O no,
Were this proud man the world's unbounded lord,
He never should obtain me, Maximus.

Max.
And yet how easy we deceive ourselves:
He boasts your will is his, that you adore him,
That he at pleasure rules Honoria's heart,
And that a glance from him will calm your anger.

Hon.
Presumptuous insolence! he soon shall find
His folly crush'd. The first who woos my love,
(Above a subject's rank) shall be my lord,
He'll see that then I want not crowns or empires,
And if he rule, at will, Honoria's heart.

[going.

SCENE XI.

Enter Valentinian.
Val.
Honoria stay. Thou must, for my repose,
Bestow thy hand on one I fear to thee
But little grateful; true he has done us wrong,
Yet must we make the public weal secure.
He asks thy nuptial faith, and prudence bids
Accept the peaceful offer.

Hon.
Ætius sure
Repents the past. [aside.]
Know I this suitor's name?

Val.
Too well thou know'st it; and I fear, my sister,
To speak, what spoken will but urge thy lips
To frame reproaches. Thou wilt say his soul
Is haughty, cruel, that he little knows
The ties of faith, that all the affronts we have suffer'd
Are yet too recent. I confess it all—
But when I weigh the occasion, with regret
My counsel bids thee not reject the alliance.

Hon.
Shall I refuse him then? [aside.]
If my consent
Secure your peace, this heart is yours to give.

Max.
What means Augustus? Ætius seeks his life,
And would he thus reward him?

Val.
'Tis not Ætius
Employs my thoughts—I speak of Attila.

Hon.
O fatal error! [aside.]
Attila?

Max.
And whence
Such unexpected turn?

Val.
This very moment
A messenger, by letters to my hand,
Has signified his wish: hence may we see
His pride is lower'd: this offer brings no shame
To thee, my sister; thou receiv'st a husband
Whom kings obey;—Barbarian though he be,
His manners soften'd by thy noble love,
May take the shape of virtues.

Hon.
Say, does Ætius
Know Attila's request?

Val.
Does Ætius know it?
Must I consult with Ætius? To what end
Appeal to him?

Hon.
To mortify his pride;
To let him find his aid less needful here;
To let him see Honoria's hand alone
Can save the Roman state.

Val.
This shall he know:
Mean time may I to Attila return
Your full consent?

Hon.
No—let me first behold
Your life in safety.—Find the hidden traitor:
Let Ætius speak, and then, without disguise,
Honoria will reveal her soul's dear purpose.

[Exit.

SCENE XII.

Valentinian, Maximus.
Val.
Conduct the prisoner hither— [to an attendant.]
Midst my doubts,
From thee I seek for counsel. May I hope
This tie with Attila will tend in part
To my security?

Max.
It rather tends
To expose to greater dangers: he but seeks
To lull your vigilance, this well-feign'd friendship
Will draw him nearer to you; he, with Ætius
May plan some fatal scheme. This late attempt
Makes all too clear; and well thou know'st that Ætius
Left every passage free for Attila,
When Attila escap'd; yet duty bade him
Conduct to thee his prisoner: this he fail'd,
And yet the power was his.

Val.
'Tis all too true.

SCENE XIII.

Enter Fulvia.
Fulv.
Augustus, ease my terror. Is the traitor
Discover'd yet? Say, is your life in safety?

Val.
Can then my safety be so dear to Fulvia?

Fulv.
And can you doubt it? I behold in Cæsar
A lover to whose fate my own must soon
Be join'd (O death to feign) [aside.]
in Hymen's bands.

Max.
What do I hear? Does not her secret heart
Belie her lips' profession?

[aside.
Val.
If my danger
Awaken gentle pity in thy breast,
I prize my safety less. May I then hope
Thy faith unshaken?

Fulv.
Whilst I live, shall Cæsar
Still share my tenderest thoughts. O pardon, Ætius!

[aside.
Max.
I'm lost in wonder.

[aside.
Val.
Did not Ætius' treason
Claim all our thoughts, thy hand had long ere this
Been join'd to mine; but dear his life shall answer
This outrage to my love.

Fulv.
A crime like his
Demands your just revenge: but who, meanwhile,
Shall guard you from the people's headlong rage?
They dote on Ætius: O! take heed, Augustus,
I shudder at the thought.

Val.
'Tis that retards
My vengeance.

Max.
Now I understand thee, Fulvia.

[aside.
Fulv.
Say, he were innocent, in him you lose
Your great support: behold your life expos'd
To treason's secret aims: behold your name
Hated of all—I tremble but to think it.

Val.
Grant Heaven he were not guilty! but he comes,
And comes by my command.

Fulv.
What do I hear!

[aside.
Val.
Now, Fulvia, from himself impartial learn,
What Ætius is.

Fulv.
Permit me to depart.
[going.
The criminal, who meets his judge alone,
More freely will confess.

Val.
No, Fulvia, stay.

Max.
Ætius approaches.

Fulv.
Heavens!

Val.
Now, Fulvia, take
Thy seat by Cæsar's side.

Fulv.
By Cæsar's side!
And shall a subject then presume—

Val.
Remember
The maid who holds a monarch in her chains,
No longer is a subject.

Fulv.
Yet, permit me—

Val.
No more—be seated—from this hour begin
To make the throne familiar.

Fulv.
I obey.
[sits on the right hand of Val.
O cruel trial!

SCENE XIV.

Enter Ætius.
Æt.
Heavens! what do I see!
[entering he sees Fulvia, and stops.
In Fulvia such inconstancy!

Fulv.
Be firm
My breaking heart!

[aside.
Val.
Leader, approach.

Æt.
Who now
Is judge of Ætius? Does my fate depend
On Cæsar or on Fulvia?

Val.
I and Fulvia,
Are but one judge: for since by nuptial ties
I call her mine, she reigns a sovereign here.

Æt.
O faithless woman!

[aside.
Fulv.
Could I but assure him
That Fulvia now dissembles!

[aside.
Val.
Ætius, hear,
And learn awhile to curb the native pride
That can no more avail thee. Secret treason
Is aim'd at me, and each in thee believes
The treason's author: all bespeaks thy guilt:
Thy proud refusal of Honoria's hand;
Thy insolence in conquest; thy permission
Of Attila's escape; thy jealousy;
Thy rash presumptuous love; thy open threats,
Of which thou know'st myself so late was witness.
Think how to clear thy fame, or merit pardon.

Max.
Now, fate, betray me not.

[aside.
Æt.
Cæsar, 'tis true
The charge is specious. Where's the assassin hid,
Whose hand assail'd thee? Who accuses Ætius
As author of the treason? Cæsar, thou,
Thou art the accuser of the guilt of Ætius,
At once the judge and witness.

Fulv.
Heavens! he's lost.

Val.
And shall I bear such insolence?

Æt.
Howe'er
The crime is true, why is it charg'd on me?
Because I have refus'd to wed Honoria?
And have I thus with toil preserv'd for Cæsar
His liberty, that he should now forbid me
To own my heart's affection? Am I guilty
From Attila's late flight? And should I then
Have made him prisoner, that all Europe freed
From fear of him, who bound their arms to ours.
Might join their force against imperial Rome?
Seek out some other warrior. I am guilty
Because I know myself, and freely speak,
What conscious worth approves.—The ignoble mind
Shrinks from itself, nor dares review its deeds.

Fulv.
O might I yet retire!

[aside.
Val.
This rash defence
Adds to thy former guilt—Hast thou ought else
To plead in thy behalf?

Æt.
Let this suffice:
For what remains, let Cæsar ask no more.

Val.
What canst thou further say?

Æt.
That he whose arm
Defends the ungrateful, fosters tyranny;
That valour in the subject still excites
Envy in him who reigns; that Cæsar scorns
To owe his all to Ætius; that he fears
In me that treason, which he knows too well
The deed, that robs me of my love, deserves.

Val.
Dost thou insult me thus! presumptuous man!

Fulv.
O! Heavens!

[aside.
Val.
I yet can punish thee—

Fulv.
Ah! Cæsar,
If you love Fulvia, let her now depart,
My presence but disturbs you.

[rises.
Val.
Yet remain;
Thou see'st my just resentment. Sit, and mark
How proofs shall yet confound this stubborn traitor.

Æt.
O faithless woman!

[aside.
Fulv.
Could I but assure him
My cruelty is feign'd!

[aside, sits again.
Max.
All yet goes well.

[aside.
Val.
Ætius, be innocent of every crime;
And let Augustus, envious of thy glory,
Invent this calumny; yet from thy heart
Declare without reserve, (at least in this
Be Ætius his own judge,) is not the subject,
Who dares in love contend with him who reigns,
A rebel to his prince?

Æt.
And is not he
Who dares in love invade another's right,
A tyrant to his subject?

Val.
Think'st thou then
That Fulvia loves thee?

Fulv.
O my breaking heart!

[aside.
Val.
Relieve him, dearest Fulvia, from the vain
And fond deception: say if Valentinian
Was thy first love, and ever still remains
Sole partner of thy heart.

Fulv.
What Cæsar speaks,
That Fulvia must confirm.

[to Val.
Æt.
O! perjur'd woman!
This stroke indeed has baffled all my firmness.

Val.
See how thy hopes deceive thee.

[to Æt.
Æt.
Do not triumph,
Nor trust the faith of an inconstant woman;
To her I leave my vengeance;—yes, I feel
A secret hope, that Cæsar, for my wrongs,
Will prove the faith of Fulvia.

Fulv.
Must I still
Conceal my anguish!

[aside.
Max.
Fulvia, yet be constant.

[aside.
Æt.
Scarce Ætius knows himself; before her presence
My heart is rent. O! never, Maximus,
Since first I breath'd this air, my soul has felt
Such pangs of warring passion!

[to Max.
Fulv.
'Tis too much;
I cannot bear the thought—

[going, weeps.
Val.
What do'st thou, Fulvia?

Fulv.
I must retire—such trial far outweighs
My sex's constancy.

Val.
Yet stay, and punish
This rival's insolence.

Fulv.
In pity, Cæsar,
Permit me to retire.

Val.
It must not be,
Once more, for Cæsar's sake, declare thy love
Is only mine, that I am all to Fulvia,
And that she sees with joy the pangs of Ætius.

Fulv.
But say 'twere false, and Ætius all my happiness.

Val.
What say'st thou?

Max.
Ha!

Æt.
I breathe again.

Fulv.
How long
Must I dissemble? Yes, to appease your anger,
Cæsar, I veil'd my thoughts: I hop'd to save
The guiltless Ætius—'twas for him alone
I bore these struggles—know the love of Cæsar
Ne'er touch'd this faithful bosom; if my lips
Could speak to you of love, believe them not,
Augustus, they deceiv'd you.

Æt.
Joyful sounds!

Val.
Where am I! Did I hear thee right? Ingrate!
Presumptuous Fulvia?

Æt.
Now, whose hopes deceive him!

[to Val.
Val.
Rash man! ungrateful Fulvia! Guards! remove
That traitor from my presence: plunge him deep
In some most horrid dungeon, there reserv'd
For my revenge.

[rises.
Æt.
Thy rage is Ætius' glory.
What bliss can equal mine? for this I yield
The palms of every conquest: I despise
Thy boast of empire: nothing now remains
To crown my vows; not Attila subdu'd
Gave equal transport to this hour of triumph.

[Exit, guarded.

SCENE XV.

Valentinian, Maximus, Fulvia.
Val.
Ungrateful woman! have I e'er deserv'd
From thee such recompense? Behold, my friend,
What faith thy daughter guards for Valentinian.

Max.
Unworthy girl! where didst thou learn deceit?
Thus dost thou imitate thy father's truth?
Hast thou from my example—

Fulv.
Cease, my father,
Ah! tempt me not too far, the reins are loose,
And if thou urgest still—these lips—

Max.
Be silent:
Thy blood shall else—

Val.
Hold, Maximus, my vengeance
Shall find a surer way; since she detests me,
Since I'm so hateful to her, I will wed her,
And marriage be her punishment.

Fulv.
O! never—
Banish that thought.

Val.
Ha! know'st thou not my power?

Fulv.
I know thy power may take this hated life,
But seeks in vain to shake my stedfast soul:
My sufferings long have banish'd every fear.

[Exit.

SCENE XVI.

Valentinian, Maximus.
Max.
Now to dissemble. [aside.]
Never to my shame,
Augustus, shall she live—This hand, even now,
Shall pierce her faithless heart.

[going.
Val.
O! hold, my friend,
If Fulvia dies, I shall not long survive:
Even yet she may repent.

Max.
Thy will, great Sir,
Reluctant I obey, though justice bids me
Exact the punishment.

Val.
Why, Maximus,
Why differs thus thy daughter's soul from thine?

Max.
While shame in every feature glows,
Nor calm, nor peace this bosom knows;
Methinks the indignant world surveys
A daughter, who her faith betrays,
And cry, that from a father's art,
She learn'd to act the treacherous part.

[Exit.

SCENE XVII.

Valentinian alone.
Val.
Ah! whither would ye lead me now, disdain,
Love, jealousy, and all the cares of empire?
At once I feel myself a foe, a lover,
Incens'd and yet irresolute—Meantime
I pardon not nor punish. Well I know
Honour should drive this Fulvia from my heart.
From her my evils spring: but ah! I dare not
Attempt the conquest, such an unknown power
Weighs down my soul, and even endears my chains!

[Exit.